Archer c1200 vs. c7 – Which offers the widest network coverage
Choosing a home router isn’t an easy choice with so many brands saturating the market. Making the wrong choice can make your internet browsing experience a complete bore. In this review we examine how the Archer c1200 and c7 perform against each other.
Having a home router is your way out of slow internet speeds and expensive smartphone bundles. For one, all members of the family can port in and stream 4K videos, surf the net and play some high intensive multiplayer games online. The routers also come USB ports to support your printers and other peripherals.
When choosing a home router it is imperative that you go with something that offers you extensive network coverage to all your rooms. Routers that are tri-band tend to have the best coverage and you should enjoy seamless surfing without suffering from buffering. In this review, we check out the Archer c1200 and c7 and tell you which is the best for home use.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Archer c1200 vs. c7?
Model |
Archer c1200 (Winner) |
C7 |
Dimensions (Inches) |
9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3 |
9.5 x 6 x 1.4 |
Processor |
Broadcom BCM47189 900MHz chip |
Qualcomm QCA9558 720MHz |
Antennas |
3 |
6 |
Sensitivity |
-62 to -76dBm |
-63 to -96bBm |
DC Input power |
12 VDC at 1 A |
12 VDC at 2.5 A |
Speed and range – throughput |
At close range scores 68Mbps for 2.4GHz band for 5GHz band gets 530Mbps. |
You have a peak throughput of 360.6Mbps at 5 feet and 59.1Mbps for 15 feet |
Availability |
Archer c1200 vs. c7 – How do they compare?
Design
The c1200 was introduced as an upgrade to the c7. This means you will find a lot of updated hardware and technology. This entry-level router has some of the latest technologies found in high-end routers. The router has a basic design with three external antennas. At the back you will get your power/reset buttons plus a USB port, four Ethernet ports and WPS button. You can mount the router on walls courtesy of slots at the back or place it flat on surfaces. This is not a large router as it measures a moderate 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches.
When it comes to the design of thearcher c7 there is nothing much impressive. It is quite small at 9.5 x 6 x 1.4 inches. You have three external antennas that handle the 5GHz band and three internal ones for the 2.4GHz. Then fact that the antennas are rated 5dBi is a big plus as it ensures you get the best signals. You can even twist the antennas for the strongest signal strength. The green LED lights are quite attractive when it comes to glowing in the dark. They work great to show you the status of your bands connection and WPS activation. You also have some lights at the back for monitoring the USB connections. The router has at the back four Gigabit LAN connections and 2.0 USB port for connecting your printer.
Performance and technologies
The c1200 has a Broadcom BCM47189 processor capable of speeds of up to 900MHz. It also features 16MB of firmware storage and 128MB of RAM. With this kind of processor the router is capable of supporting 300Mbs for the 2.4GHz band and 867Mbps for the 5GHz frequency.
This brings its total bandwidth to 1,167Mbps. The router also supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. It also comes with 2X2 MU-MIMO technology. The c7 is powered by a Qualcomm’s QCA9558 720MHz processor with 128MB of RAM. While this is slower than the c1200 processor speed, the c7 covers up this shortcoming by having Skyworks amplifiers to each of its six antennas to boost coverage.
To transmit data you have the beamforming technology but lack the MU-MIMO for simultaneous data streaming. The router performs moderately when put to various speed tests. At 802.11ac peak performance you should expect to get 363.6Mbps at 5 feet. At 15 feet expect 59.2Mbps. The c7 performance is great for medium sized homes but do not expect great speeds if you are living in a mansion with multiple rooms.
Installation and setup
The setup process for the c7 is pretty simple, all you have to do is plug in the device to a power source then head to their web browser and configure the device to your preferences. You will find the username and password to use during setup but you should change this once done.
You will find the setup process a bit simplified through various setup questions. Configuration of the device isn’t that simple as you have to do this manually. This can pose challenges for those who are not network gurus as you have multiple configurations which can be confusing.
Configuration of the c1200 is as simple as the c7. You have a guide and wizards to help you in the process. When you are doing the initial setup, you will be asked for your time zone then the router software will automatically detect connections and ask you some basic setup questions. The advanced tab will show you more setup details like guest network, parental control, NAT forwarding, QoS, IPv6, system tools among others.
Archer c1200 vs. c7 – A Comparison Overview
Archer c1200 – Overview
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing...
- Stream in 4K on multiple devices and reduce buffering by upgrading to 1200 Mbps AC WiFi (N300+AC900)
The archer c1200 is an awesome budget friendly router for home use. It has some of the features you will normally find in the high-end routers like MU-MIMO streaming. You also get to enjoy live and fast video streaming through the 5GHz band. The router measures a decent 1.4 x 9.1 x 5.7 inches –this compact design means you can fit it almost anywhere in your home without it causing much distraction. The c1200 comes with four non-removable antennas.
The design is basic. You have some black and grey textured designs on the glossy black surface. At the front you LED status indicators for your radio bands, power, internet, Ethernet and the WPS. At the back you get the WPS button, reset, and power buttons, WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports and a power jack.
The c1200 is powered by a 900MHz BCM47189 processor that enables the router reach speeds of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency and for the 5GHz reach 867Mbs. It also has 16MB of firmware storage and 128MB of RAM. While this is a budget friendly router it still does amazingly well in embracing the latest router technologies. You have the MU-MIMO for simultaneous data streaming, 802.11ac Wave 2 technology and the beamforming technology for enhanced direct to client signal transmissions.
Installation and setup is simple and fast. You can setup through the TP link web interface. Once done you should download the TP Link Tether mobile app. Here you can view the status for your router while on the go. You can enable/disable parental control, check and adjust your security settings as well as carry out various router diagnostic controls. If you are accessing the settings through the web portal you should be able to view various wireless client status updates.
The parental control settings page comes in handy when you have kids accessing the internet. You can control what they watch by blocking certain websites through the use of keywords. You can even set internet limits and gain access to all the sites they have visited. Other advanced settings available for the router include IPv6, QoS, VPN server settings, NAT forwarding, and various advanced security settings. You can switch your router from access point mode to main router mode. The router also allows you to update its firmware and view system logs, do automatic reboots and view the network traffic statistics.
What we liked:
- Budget friendly
- Supports MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies
- The 5GHz band offers fast internet speeds
- Compact design
What we did not like:
- The 2.4GHz is a bit of disappointment when it comes to speed
Archer c7 – Overview
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The archer c7 has a basic design that is common with many routers. You have three large antennas at the back with the router status lights at the front. The router measures 9.5 x 6 x 1.4 inches and this compact design makes it ideal for many medium sized homes. The antennas spread out coverage for the 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies. The antennas are rated 5dBi – this is a big plus for a budget-friendly router. If you are having difficulties with the signal you can easily twist and swivel the antennas. The 3 5dBi antennas serve the three 5GHz band while you have three internal antennas for the 2.4GHz.
At the router rear you have a Gigabit WAN port, four LAN Gigabit ports, buttons for power and WPS, and two 2.0 USB ports. The router comes with a glossy finish that is easy to clean off dust but it often leaves fingerprints. The LED lights will glow bright green when everything is working fine. You can check the status of the two bands, four wired LAN ports, and if the WPS is activated.
Power to the c7 is through a Qualcomm QCA9558 720MHz Scorpio chip that also comes with 128MB of RAM. The processor speed may not be that impressive with so many routers now going for gigahertz processors but a dedicated Skyworks amplifier that helps boost the bands transmission for enhanced coverage mitigates this.
When it comes to hosting the latest technologies the c7 comes with the beamforming technique but falls short in lack of MU-MIMO technology (helps in the simultaneous data streaming which helps if you have bandwidth intensive devices).
The c7 performs is average when put to the test. From both channels you can get a throughput peak of 360.6Mbps at 5 feet and 59.2Mbps at 15 feet. The 5GHz works better and you can get 304.4Mbps at 5 feet. Connection for the c7 is simple and fast. You can do it through a web browser. Underneath each router purchase is the username and password. This are what you will use during initial setup; once done you should comfortably change them to your liking.
Once connected the system will detect signals and devices and you will be required to key in some basic setup questions. You can perform various customization options for the router but note that these do can be complicated due to their manual nature. The router uses some of the latest encryption standards. It is also features DD-WRT open source firmware. This will help network nerds optimize their router. The parental control feature comes in handy to regulate what your kids surf online. You can limit their time and site access.
What we liked:
- Latest beamforming technology
- Fast performance on the 5GHz band
- Glossy finish design for enhanced aesthetics
- Easy to install
What we did not like:
- Performance for the 2.4GHz band isn’t that great
Conclusion: Which is better – Archer c1200 vs. c7?
The Archer c1200is a clear winner in this review. It comes armed with 2.4GHz and 5Ghz that support one of the fastest network circuitry – the 802.11ac. This enables the router to offer fast internet speeds to handle your 4K video streaming, web browsing and play some multi-player games online. It also comes with a Tether app for both iOS and Android devices and this enables you to monitor you network on the go. Overall, this is an affordable router for home use.
FAQ
What are the network standards for the Archer c1200?
The c1200 runs on the IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac network standards. It also enhances its traffic outreach by using the MU-MIMO technology. This allows the router to simultaneously send data to devices. You can also connect your gaming consoles to the 4 available Ethernet ports to enjoy various multiplayer games.
What is the rating for the archer c7 antennas?
Most of the budget routers in the market often use 3dBi but the c7 has gone a notch higher to offer dBi to its routers. You can also swivel and twist the antennas as you wish for the best signal strength. The 2.4GHz antennas are actually stored internally to prevent network interference but if you want the strongest signal go with the 5GHz band.
